By AARON CRANFORD
For the third time in the previous four Copa America tournaments, Argentina will take part in the final, as the 14-time winner progressed against Paraguay, 6-1.
The Argentine stars shined in Concepcion, Chile, as Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero each tallied a goal in its rout of Paraguay. Two goals and an assist from Di Maria led the way for Argentina, who reach the final again after missing out in the 2011 edition of the tournament.
Marcos Rojo gave Argentina the lead in the 15th minute, and Javier Pastore blasted in the second twelve minutes later to give Argentina the quick two-goal advantage.
Paraguay would make the scoreline 2-1 in favor of Argentina at the break, but Di Maria’s brace, made possible by the awe-inspiring play of Lionel Messi and Pastore, a Sergio Aguero header and a late blast from Higuain sent Argentina into the final where it’ll meet host Chile.
In the 15th minute, Messi whipped in an in-swinging cross from the left, and Rojo was the man near the six-yard box that found the ball fortunately fall to his feet.
Unfortunately for Paraguay, tournament standout Derlis Gonzalez had to leave the field approximately 20 minutes into play, and things got worse before they got better for Paraguay.
In the 27th minute, Pastore, who had looked likely to score twice earlier, banged in the second. And the goal wasn’t the only bad news for Paraguay, as captain Roque Santa Cruz limped off moments later, forcing head coach Ramon Diaz to make yet another substitution before the 30-minute mark.
However, the underdog wasn’t going to give up so easily. Lucas Barrios pulled Paraguay within one before the break with a rocket from the top of the penalty box, giving La Albirroja a glimmer of hope of a comeback in the second half.
Two minutes into the second 45 minutes, though, Pastore picked out Di Maria and erased the dream, slotting the ball into the net and extending the lead to two once again.
Di Maria would tally his second eight minutes later, putting the match securely out of reach. Messi tore apart Paraguay’s midfield, fed the ball to Pastore, and his shot deflected into the wide-open path of the Manchester United FC midfielder, who buried it.
And from there, the flood gates opened, Aguero powered in a header after Di Maria sent in a cross from the left, and a little later, Higuain struck the ball into the back of the net after Messi danced around the box yet again.
Argentina meets host Chile on Saturday in the Copa America final in Santiago, while Paraguay will play Peru Friday to determine third and fourth Place.
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What did you think of Argentina’s dominant win? Are you excited for an Argentina vs. Chile final?
Share your thoughts below.
Lmao! It’s funny how you try to justify your comments by mentioning about the U.S. Government activities. That’s called a cheap shot. Stick to the little knowledge you have bout football. All countries tremble the thought of getting into WAR with us. You cant mess with our military. You may think MLS is boring to watch, yet TV networks in England, Spain, Argentina, Germany have bought the broadcasting rights. Yea I know what you’re going to say its because of the foreign players right? Yea Look how competitive the league has become. The US has upcoming promising youngsters that beat the Netherlands and Germany very recently. Our culture has Americanized most countries be it entertainment, sports, fashion, business etc. Women down there love it! Our accents are like Barry white for women its like giving them a deep soothing massage that they want so bad. Nice try.
Look, we’re really sorry for Pinochet and I see how that can color your views, but you may want to compare the results that matter in your argument on “talent” and “belonging”….
USA: Chile:
1990 Group Stage DNQ
1994 Round of 16 BANNED
1998 Group stage Round of 16
2002 Quarter-finals DNQ
2006 Group stage DNQ
2010 Round of 16 Round of 16
2014 Round of 16 Round of 16
Hi, Roberto:
Please comment on Cavani’s red card at 0:0 with 20 minutes left.
Please comment on the red card of the Peruvian center back 20 mins in.
Please also comment on Chile’s first goal scored from an offside position v. Peru.
Those are game changing decisions going in Chile’s way.
Yes, Chile is a decent enough side. Yes, the referees are pushing them toward the trophy. That makes them extremely unlikable in the eyes of the neutral (me). And Vidal is an arrogant and overrated player.
Here’s to Argentina to spoil the party on Saturday.
Ok all you Americans you want me to comment?? I’ll just do one comment; What Jara did to Ururguay is really a metaphor to what the US does to all countries in the name of oil and what the US did to Japan in Hiroshima….it’s what your own government does to you and your economy, they do “the Jara” to you because no one says or does anything..hahahaYou want to “belong in the world of Soccahhh, but the truth is with all your money , stadiums foreign stars in the MLS….. you are horrible and boring to watch and will never ever win a world cup……ever!!!! ok ??? all you have is the womens team because here this is a sport for cissies and all men here accept that and watch the games hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
anyone can win this final , in the end with all this talent from both sides of the field anything can happen. be it Chile , Argentina or Brazil Uruguay etc. We are the first world in this sport and you are not even considered third world!! there are rivalries in S America but in the end o we all understand and have something in common; we know who the real enemy is.. Nobody likes you guys down here. No one likes your arrogance your lack of talent, culture or the way you speak english (accent). One thing for sure based on the comments ; you will be watching the final, salivating and wishing you had a Vidal, a Medel, messi, Neymar or my boy Cavani (great player) . so watch , enjoy and learn…but please don’t visit our countries as tourists….we dont want you here
Hey Roberto, if you want us to leave S Americans alone stick to S American websites/blogs not N American sports soccer pages. We practice freedom of speech. get it? got it? good. Chile hot help all along the tourney as host country, conmebol is so corrupt and we’re glad US soccer federation has nothing to do with that mess S American soccer is, Having said that, Argentina will win, because they’re the better team and world cup runners up!!!
You’re right Christian; US soccer federation has nothing to do with S America…. cause you got.. nothing!! you have a horrible team that will never learn the game. South America is a mini world cup without Germany and Italy…ok?? it’s a war for men where everything counts…. no room for naive hypocrites….what we do in soccer your country does on other levels (creating real wars) which is worse Christiancito??? ito ito ito?
duuuuuuhhhhh freedom of speech fredom of speech , thats what all of you in this country repeat always as if it were exclusive to you only….listen man here’s my take on your freedom of speech; I think it’s great but only for intelligent educated people not for hillbillies like you. you must earn freedom of speech and you need limits cause you are too opinionated and clueless. you can’t give too much power to dummies and there’s too many of you in this country and those are the people I attack, not the country and the more intelligent people. It seems that the soccer world here is full of you guys. The real intelligent people here dont care about MLS and US Soccer. bye now
Finally somebody put out that rabid dog Paraguay is. Argentina tore them a new one. You should’ve seen the coach’s face after the 6th goal, priceless. Garbage team gets pummeled by world class team. Chile get ready; oooohh wait, they’ll get an Argentinian player red carded to even the game.
Pretty nice when you can score 6 and Messi isn’t even one of them
Hey Comandante what is your problem with Chileans huh? you starting to become a pain in the you know where… I’ve been following your comments. The two best teams are in the final with or without refs help Chile would have won anyway (Uruguay and Peru or whoever) you gotta love Americans talking BS about South America soccer.. Go watch USWNT soccer or better yet run to the newstand and see see if you can still find the Vanity Fair issue on Bruce….Caitlyn…Jenner or whatever..Stick with your Sport Icons leave us S Americans alone
Hey Roberto, wetback, why don’t you go back south of the border if you love it so much there. Afraid of the “la mordida culture?’ And, I say whatever the phuq I want about south american teams.
Refrain from racial epithets, please.
ooooh el comandante is jealous of Cavani??? and wants a “jara” treatment done to him??? you know you want it…mwahahahah
With or without the refs help? Are you serious? Last time I check the Jara giving Cavani a rectal exam should have been at least a red card for him. Then there is the question of whether Vidal should have gotten a red card at the opening of the Peru/Chile game. Chile with a man advantage still only skimmed through with a 2-1 win. Meaning that Peru could have made a better game and could have been an even more contrsted affair.
I’ll tell you this much if I was Chilean, in no way would I be proud of the way Chile has in fact progressed through these last two games. Beating teams with questionable red cards is not the way you show your might. As a neutral all this looks like is as if this is all rigged to give Argentina la Copa America.
How many Americans have played in Barca, Real Madrid??? In Juventus or any of the big teams that are not american owned ?? ….nobody wants you and if Man Utd or any American team wants a player from you it’s just to sell T shirts in your country and not for your talent cause Howard and whoever left those teams prrretty quick ok?? US; nobody wants you !! anywhere!! you have nothing to contribute to the game besides your money….you are like the rich kid in the block that everyone uses but is never taken seriously